Vehicle Specs

Audi’s E-tron has been trimmed down closer to production specification for its second public showing Stateside in Detroit.

Based on the R8 supercar, E-tron represents Audi’s thinking on zero-emission motoring – essentially that being environmentally friendly should not impede performance expectations.

Still some silly numbers, some more realistic ones too...

The E-tron on display at the Detroit auto show this week is shorter and lighter (by 250kg) than the original car which debuted at Frankfurt last year.

Power is down slightly too (from 230- to 150kW) whilst peak rotational force – depending on how you measure torque output – has weakened from 4 500- to only 2 650Nm…

Beyond the slightly more production based drivetrain (with four electric motors still driving an individual wheel each) E-tron sports significant performance credentials. Audi claims 0-100km/h acceleration in only 5.9 seconds, with 60-120km/h roll-on flexibility in only 5.1 seconds.

Surfacing is mostly devoid of air-intakes, as there is no engine to cool. Front air-intakes can be closed at speed to aid aerodynamic efficiency.

Acute all-wheel drive control

Further shoring up the E-tron’s dynamics is a complex torque vectoring system which enacts unparalleled all-wheel drive torque distribution adaptability.

Torque vectoring apportions drive to wheels on demand, factoring in steering and slip angles, which means although the default drive configuration is a 30/70 rearward bias, you’ll never see the alleged 2 650Nm deployed all at once.

A particular advantage of electric drive, in conjunction with a torque vectoring system, is the immediacy with which toque flow to individual wheels can be increased or decreased.

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